Aircraft: Air Conditioning

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment has she made of the health implications for aircraft passengers and crew of air quality in commercial aircraft; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: We commissioned the independent Committee on Toxicity (COT) to evaluate evidence submitted by the British Air Lines Pilots Association (BALPA) in relation to cabin air "fume events". The COT received extensive information from oil companies, airlines, engine manufacturers, independent scientific experts and campaign groups. The COT also reviewed previous studies of cabin air. The COT reported on 20 September 2007. The report is published on COT's website at www.advisorvbodies.doh.gov.uk/cotnonfood/index.htm where there is a mass of material.
	The committee considered that it was not possible to conclude whether cabin air exposures (either general or following incidents) cause ill-health in commercial aircraft crews. It recommended further work, in particular and as a priority, to ascertain whether substances in the cabin environment during fume events could potentially be harmful to health. COT considered that this work should be designed to detect any potentially harmful substances, rather than focus on named substances.
	In keeping with its commitment to promoting healthy flying, the Department for Transport accepts this priority. We have recently been testing equipment which may be capable of capturing substances released during fume incidents. Subject to the results of this testing, the Department hopes to begin a study later this year or early next year.

Computer Software

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the  (a) percentage of software by value procured using Open Source and  (b) percentage of software projects procured using Open Source in each of the last five years for which information is available;
	(2)  what plans he has to promote the use of Open Source IT by Government bodies; and what targets exist for the use of Open Source;
	(3)  what assessment his Department has made of the potential of Open Source software to produce efficiency savings;
	(4)  what steps have been taken following his Department's publication of Open Source Software Use Within UK Government in 2004; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  which of the seven next steps listed on page six of his Department's publication Open Source Software Use Within UK Government published in 2004, have been implemented; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  what advice has been issued by the Office of Government Commerce to departments on the use of Open Source information technology.

Gillian Merron: Government seeks the most cost-effective IT solutions. It tries to avoid mandating particular technologies so that suppliers can manage technology risks.
	Although Open Source can be cheaper to purchase it can also entail higher support and other costs. The additional costs or savings depend on the individual business requirement. This is supported by external studies which have not shown a consistent advantage to open source in these terms.
	The Government's policy on Open Source is to consider such solutions alongside proprietary ones in IT procurements and award contracts on a value for money basis; only use products for interoperability that support open standards and specifications in all future IT developments; seek to avoid lock-in to proprietary IT products and services; and consider obtaining full rights to bespoke software code or customisations of commercial off the shelf software it procures wherever this achieves best value for money.
	The Government have no targets to promote the use of Open Source except where it is the most cost-effective way of meeting its needs. Information on the total use and value of Open Source in government is not held centrally and could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost. However it does play an important role in major applications including websites such as Directgov; Electronic Vehicle Licensing; and Jobcentre Plus's system to help people to obtain jobs.
	Since 2004 we have continued to explore the use of Open Source to reduce total costs and improve the quality of business solutions. The security issues have been examined: some open source products have already passed information assurance certification. We have published the results of open source trials and can be found at:
	http://www.ogc.gov.uk/documents/CP0041OpenSourceSoftware TrialReport.pdf.
	DTI and Research Councils have continued to work on Open Source issues in government-funded research (although no central records are held on individual projects).
	I would also refer the hon. Member to the speech given by my right hon. Friend the Exchequer Secretary in Westminster Hall,  Official Report, columns 48-52WH.

Departments: Internet

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many  (a) unique visits there have been to the Have Your Say on the Government's Draft Legislative Programme section of the Cabinet Office website and  (b) unique visitors there have been to the Draft Legislative Programme section of the hmg.gov.uk website since 11 July 2007.

Gillian Merron: The Cabinet Office "Have your say" governance topic (http://haveyoursay.cabinet office.gov.uk/co/topic.aspx?topic=governance) received 1,348 unique visitors from its launch on 11 July 2007 to 21 October 2007.
	The Draft Legislative Programme section of the HMG website (http://www.hmg.gov.uk/draftlegislativeprogramme /index.asp) received 2,476 unique visitors from its launch on 4 September 2007 to 21 October 2007.